Messi Vs Ronaldo 2018 - The Greatest Rivalry For years, the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona has defined top-level European football. At its heart: a personal battle – Messi vs Ronaldo. Since they were first pitted against each other in 2007, the two men’s domination of the record books has been unparalleled. Their styles, personalities and footballing allegiances continue to divide opinion but one thing is beyond doubt: this is football’s greatest ever head-to-head. In this new edition of Messi vs Ronaldo, updated to include all the action from 2016/17, Luca Caioli draws on the exclusive testimonies of managers, teammates, friends and family to tell the inside story of this momentous rivalry.